A SCOUT leader has hit out at mindless vandals who smashed up a bus which transports youngsters from Linwood to Johnstone.

Chris McShane said he was “filled with anger” after yobs threw a missile at his minibus while it was on the move.

The vehicle is used to take Scouts between bases in Linwood and Johnstone.

However, during one recent journey, an unknown object was hurled at the bus as it travelled along Huntersfield Road, Johnstone, smashing the rear window.

Thankfully, no children were in the bus at the time and no-one was injured.

However, Mr McShane, from Linwood, has been left with a hefty repair bill.

He told The Gazette: “Three young people were standing at the corner of the street and, suddenly, my driver heard a really loud bang.

“He carried on to Our Lady of Peace Primary, in Linwood, where he was picking up the kids, but then found that a window had been smashed.

“Luckily, there were no kids in there at the time but the driver could easily have ended up in a crash.”

Mr McShane has personal experience of a similar incident through his work as a bus driver.

He said: “I started in the bus industry about 14 years ago and used to work for Arriva and I remember this happening to me once when I was driving at the top of Barrhead.

“People just do not get how it impacts you. I ended up leaving my job after that.

“You’re performing an important task and what those kids did could easily have killed someone.

“I was so angry when I was told what had happened and it’s left me with a £200 repair bill.”

The incident took place after similar attacks in the Foxbar area of Paisley led to bus firm McGill’s temporarily withdrawing its night service from there.

Police Inspector Cassie Glass, who is based in Johnstone, has urged people to report any incidents of vandalism they witness.

She said: “There has been an issue with bus vandalism in a few areas. It is extremely dangerous and could easily end up killing someone.

“We are concerned about this and we really need people to keep reporting incidents, which allows us to look at CCTV and try to catch those who are responsible.”